Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-05-12
Mail Robbery.

~ Wa " - tASf "aO 49, 1NN@ 49, Il
mail carrier on the route between Jones
boro and Free Hill, for about a year,
was brought before U. s. Commissioner
W. G. Mathes, Monday. for preliminary
examination on charge of violating the
postal law. The boy voluntarily sub
mitted on oath substantially as follows
in relation to the charge against him;
That three or four weeks ago he was
carrying the incoming mail and had
reached a point about four miles from
Jonesboro, when some hogs jumped out
Of a fence corner and frightened his
horse, at which time the lock on the
mail pouch flew open; that he opened the
bag without getting off his horse and
took therefrom a registered letter which
he opened and found two five dollar
bills and a five dollar gold piece. As he
crossed the creek he dropped the letter
in the water. After taking the letter out
he closed the pouch and sprung the lock.
Examination of witnesses was continued
on Tuesday and the following testimony
|deduced:
tn. Shaver swore, that Oh the 10th
of April last, he mailed a registered let
ter at the Blizzard p~ostofice, In this coun-
ty, containing $15-two five dollar bills
and a five dollar gold piece; and that he
had received any acknowledgement
of Its RECEIPT by the person to whom 1t
was addressed. f IS
John F. Grisham, postmaster at Biz
Yard, said, on oath, that on April 10. he
had received and mailed a registered let
ter for Mr.. Shaver in the regular man
ner, putting 1t into the pouch with anoth-
er registered package; that Martin Stuart
carried the mail that day and that during
the making up of the mail the defendant
was in the room, but could not say whether
he saw the registered packages put into
the sack or not. Mr.. Grisham further
testified to the bad condition of some Of
the locks used on the mail pouches. Nc
receipt had ever reached him from the
Jonesboro postmaster for Mr.. Shawver's
package, but the receipt for the otkel
package came duly to hand.
N. B. Peoples. assistant postmaster a
Jonesboro, testified that on the 10th o
! April last he received the Free Hill mai
from Stuart as usual, and that he noticed
nothing wrong with the lock. On exam
nation of the contents Of the pouch b
found but one registered package though
the receipt card which accompanies tn
registered letters, stated that there wer
two in the pouch. He then carried on
the instructions to postmasters inS sue
|, cases. Last week the present carrier o
the same route called his attention to til
condition of the lock, and letters wer
:. received from the postmasters at Bill
zard and Free Hill In the mail that do
in regard to the condition Of the loci
An examination Of the lock showed 1t
be worthless and that, though 1t snappe
, like a good lock. it could be easily pull
, ed open with the fingers.
Geo. Stuart, a brother Of the defendan
swore that about three weeks ago b
, mother found 1886 in his brothers pocl
. ct and on her inquiring Of him how !
came by 1t he said that Mr. Grisham ha
! given it to him to carry to town. Aft
Il that the defendant told him that he ha
found the money. He never knew h
brother to have more than 25 to 80 cen
u at any other time.
n In default of $1,000 bail, the defenda
a. was committed to the county Jail to ava
i; trial at the next session Of the U. 8. cou
4 to be held in Knoxville; in July next.
y, p I'D b